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Higheagle
Member
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I have hiked many areas of Contra Costa and surrounding areas and am always amazed when the trail eventually comes close to water where Fishermen cross paths with hikers. Its a mess...everywhere, Soda cans, bait containers-you name it. There are clean Fishermen I realize and I'm not trying to start a war, but come on its getting ridiculous. Once in a while I will find a paper cup or something when hiking and I will pick it up and bring it in. One would need a crew to clean up around many of the reservoirs I have witnessed. This is supposed to be California the beautiful, but it is not near the waterways.
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Total Posts: 26 | Joined Nov. 2001 | Posted on: 11:25 am on Sep. 4, 2005 | IP
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Bay Area Gamboler
Member
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Higheagle,
I've noticed the same thing over the years. Many of the fisherman are poor immigrants who simply don't know better, have never been educated about taking care of the environment, not littering, etc. I believe it is this demographic that is contributing to the trashing of our waterways where fishing is allowed.
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Bay Area Gamboler
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Total Posts: 15 | Joined April 2005 | Posted on: 8:36 am on Sep. 16, 2005 | IP
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Gomboo
Member
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I've seen my share of good ol' white boys trash the shore too. I hike and fish...and clean up after myself.
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Total Posts: 59 | Joined July 2001 | Posted on: 1:47 pm on Oct. 6, 2005 | IP
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DavidS
Member
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I would agree. It has always been the case throughout California in the three plus decades I have been hiking. However since the mid 70s trashing generally has continued to get worse everywhere whether in parks, along highways, or in urban areas. Those coming of age after the heydays of the 60s generation of '65 to '75 tended to adopt rebellious attitudes of which trashing everywhere was part of that. Note this was the same time that Disco and Punk scenes started. Subsequent generations just picked up on that and have had little reason to be any different because society does little to condemn littering. And the huge numbers of immigrants often come from countries where littering has been the status quo forever and is far worse. They notice our attitudes and feel right at home to continue their old ways. Before about '65 there was a long period where one frequently heard public service tv announcements of "don't be a litterbug". And there were many signs along our California highways reminding people and indicating fines. Hence kids growing up then had a strong sense of not littering. Of course there have always been some trashy places especially in poorer neighborhoods. More importantly law enforcement and our courts actually nailed people for littering. However those days are long gone. Instead littering laws are just another of a long list of minor infractions that authorities have for the most part stopped enforcing in order to focus on other crimes they consider more important to society.
Thus our fate today is to endure increasingly pig-like ways of the masses. Fishermen among frequent outdoor users are certainly near the top of the list of disgusting offenders. There is a demographic of who tend to be fishermen that tends to represent greater numbers of the lower end of our economic and cultural society. It cuts across all racial groups too. And certainly the poorer immigrants are there. Fishermen also tend to be more apt to be alchohol consumers while they enjoy their pastime and such consumption tends to make anyone less concerned about well anything including trashing. Some fishermen will always apt to hike well away from roadsides in order to find good fishing areas. And in the process some of them bring with them their trashing ways. I have backpacked greatly over the years, and have seen as one gets further from trailheads and lakes near trailheads, littering levels decrease.
To change the situation our authorities and politicians will have to take an interest in the issue and that can only come from pressure from we peons which has long been non-existent. Littering cannot be significantly reduced by simply increasing enforcement and fines but rather a well thought out multi-level campaign that also includes regular reminders via our media to all levels of society and especially our young people growing up.
...David
(Edited by DavidS at 11:14 am on Nov. 1, 2005)
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Total Posts: 81 | Joined Feb. 2005 | Posted on: 11:09 am on Nov. 1, 2005 | IP
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Bay Area Hiker Discussion Board
Hikers vs Fishermen
